Question

Case Study 3- Hospital exposure to deadly disease: Risk Assessment and Principles of Toxicology

A man who has been traveling throughout Africa documenting the expansion of individual village/ community water wells has been brought into the ER at Chicago. He has noticed a fever for the last two days and wanted to get back home thinking a rest would do him some good. He goes to the ER because of his fever, extensive body aches, chills, and severe stomach pain. He test negative for the flu and blood work is ordered. He tells the Dr now he has had diarrhea as well as vomiting. After being monitored his eyes redden and he is coughing up blood. ID the contaminate and discuss the dose-response assessment of the identified contaminate

Answer 1

Since the patient is tested negative for flu but reports symptoms such as fever, extensive body aches, chills, and severe stomach pain, it seems to be the case of Gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea. The person's recent travel history suggests that he has been visiting the villages and community water wells in Africa, therefore, it makes it highly likely that the person may have been exposed to food, water or people infected with a parasite.

Parasitic infections that cause gastroenteritis are most commonly caused by Giardia. The gastroenteritis caused by Giardia is known as giardiasis, which is easily spread through contaminated water and human contact. Giardia lives in the intestines of infected humans or other animals, healthy individuals can become infected by ingesting or coming into contact with contaminated foods, soil, or water tainted by the feces of an infected carrier.

The common treatment suggested for a person infected with giardiasis is antiparasitic drugs. Mediacation like Tinidazole or Metronidazole to be taken for 5 - 7 days is generally advised to a person suffering from giardiasis.

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